Page 24 of Hawk

“I like to wake up to kisses, but I prefer a little less tongue,” he mumbled, scratching her behind her ears.

“Sorry about that. She snuck by me. The plan was to see if you were awake, not to slobber all over you.”

He cleared his throat and sat up on the couch. “Do you have any coffee, by any chance?”

“I do. What’s your preference? Dark roast, medium roast, flavored coffee? I have it all.”

“I’m good with whatever you prefer, as long as it’s hot and strong.”

“I’m pretty sure there’s ahow I like my menjoke in there somewhere,” I said.

He chuckled. “I’m sure there probably is.”

“I need to let Seph out, and then I’ll put the coffee on.”

He reached for his boots. “You get the coffee started, and I’ll let her out. I need to take a look at your backyard anyway.”

“My backyard?” I asked.

“We both know that asshole’s going to come back, so I want to see what we’re working with as far as security goes. How long is Seph going to be staying with you?”

“Just a couple days. Why?”

He looked up at me. “Because my place doesn’t have a yard, so I’m hoping we’ll be able to stay here at least as long as you have Seph with you.”

And with that, he strode to the back door, opened it for Seph, and followed her outside.

We’ll be able to stay here?What was he talking about?

Shit. Did he think I’d hired him as a bodyguard? I mean, Mary Ellen paid me well—better than I’d ever expected—but not enough to pay for a twenty-four-hour bodyguard. This was totally on me. What did I think was going to happen when I called a literal bodyguard for help? I would find out how much I owed him for the night, and then he could be on his way. I had Seph here with me, so I’d be okay until Andy and Jesse returned. That would give me a couple of days to figure out what came next.

I’d started the coffee brewing and was trying to decide what we could have for breakfast when the back door opened and he came back in.

“I was going to make some breakfast. Are you a breakfast eater?”

“I am, but you don’t have to cook for me. We can go get something if you’d rather.”

“I don’t mind. I actually really like to cook. How about scrambled eggs with bacon and toast?”

“Sounds good to me.”

I got to work in the kitchen, and he took a seat at the table.

“So, do you have any idea how Butch might have found you?”

“None. I mean, there are ways, I guess. I transferred my CNA license to the state of Texas, and I have utilities and things in my name. I don’t know. But, Hawk, this isn’t your problem. I know I called you, but I was panicked, and I wasn’t thinking.”

“We’ve been over this, Mika. I told you to call me if you needed me. You did exactly the right thing by calling.”

I looked up from the bowl where I was beating the eggs. “Hawk, I’m a personal companion. I can’t afford a bodyguard. I should’ve thought of that before I got you involved in this.”

“Mika, I want you to listen to me.” He gave me a look that told me he wasn’t playing around. “I’m not here representing Three Bears. I’m here because you’re in danger, and I can help.”

“But—” I started.

“No, no buts. There’s no way I’d leave you here on your own when there’s a man who’s already hurt you threatening you.”

I felt much safer with him here. The idea of trying to deal with Butch was terrifying. There was a reason why I’d run away last time, but that didn’t mean I could let my problem become a problem for Hawk.

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